Week 1 of Marathon Training: Unconventional at best

Right now, the plan is to do my first full marathon on November 11th, with training starting the Monday after the last triathlon of the season, which was last Saturday. So what did I plan out for this week? A measly total of 9 miles running, and using my long run day to bike 56 miles through three states.

I've still got it in my head that I'll be doing my first half-ironman next summer, and Ironman Wisconsin in 2015....so part of my "road to Ironman" goals for the summer were to complete all three of the half-ironman distances by the end of the summer. Checked off the swim (1.2 miles) on my first day out. Ran the Madison half-marathon in May (13.1 miles). Now all that's left is a 56 mile ride, and my tri goals for the summer will be all done.

Sorry marathon training, you're going to have to wait until next week to actually look like marathon training.

But enough on that....allow me to introduce to you The First and Only Annual Tri-State Bike Tour, Presented byemizner.

I've paid Emily and a friend $25 for gas (and entertainment) to be my "race team". They're loading up the vehicle with fluids, food, first aid, bike gear, etc and following me along on my journey. Since I paid for it, I decided it counts as a real event.

This is the course. It starts in La Crosse, Wisconsin, crosses the Mississippi River into Minnesota, follows the river down through Minnesota and into Iowa. In Lansing, IA I get transported in the vehicle across a terrible looking bridge over the Mississippi back into Wisconsin, then head north up the river....ending in Genoa, WI (population 253).

Bustling metropolises I will be passing through:

La Crosse, WISTART: Mile 0

Population: 51,320

La Crescent, MNMILE 4

Population: 4,833

Brownsville, MN

MILE 14

Population: 462

Reno, MN

MILE 20

Population: Unincorporated, less than 100

New Albin, IA

MILE 28

Population: 522

Lansing, IA

MILE 39

Population: 999

De Soto, WI

MILE 44

Population: 287

Victory, WI

MILE 48

Population: Unincorporated, less than 100

Genoa, WI

END: MILE 56

Population: 253

There's a bike friendly bar in town that we will likely end at to get dinner and beers to celebrate the ride. I'm getting excited! Should be a gorgeous ride on the river!

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